The latest from iFanboy: Episode 97 - Mike Allred

What were the comics you read as a kid that really left an impression on you?

I'm sure some will say WATCHMEN, DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, STARMAN, etc, but I wasn't reading those in 5th grade.

The two things that I remember making the biggest impression on me as a kid were the X-MEN crossover: "X-TINCTION AGENDA" and the G.I.JOE arc: "CASUALTIES OF WAR" (issues #106-114ish).

"X-TINCTION AGENDA" was my first real taste of the X-Men. Jim Lee on UNCANNY, Liefeld on NEW MUTANTS, and somebody else on X-FACTOR (don't remember who, but remember they were horrible). I just thought it was so cool, seeing all these charcters from all 3 teams as prisoners in Genosha. Havok was brainwashed, Storm was a bald slave and everybody else was fighting to get free from Cameron Hodge. Maybe not the best X-MEN crossover, but the one that got me hooked on them ever since (through some great highs and lame lows).

The G.I. JOE run made a huge impression on me, because I had grown up watching the cartoon , but no one EVER died in all that shooting and explosions. During this arc, not only did the Joes blow away many Cobras, but many of them died as well, including Breaker, Sneak Peak, Doc, Quick Kick, the entire Battleforce 2000 and a bunch more (I'm doing this from memory, so I can't remember who else, but there were alot). For the first time, I saw that the violence in G.I. Joe had real repercussions and this arc has always stuck with me.

So, anayway... Those were mine... What are the comics from your childhood made a lasting impression on you?

sounds like fun but a bit far when you live in Cali.

This question has been answered several times in the Comic Book Recommendation thread stickied at the very top of this forum.

... as a graphic designer?

This article -> *link*

As a husband and overall person? -> The Bible. Dale Carnegie.

Fantastic interview.

I agree with what he said about death and the afterlife. Growing up, going to church, death never really scared me. What freaked me out was the idea of eternity in the after life. The never-endingness of it. It seems weird, but life is finite, I can wrap my head around that... but forever.... it just always scared me.

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For example, X-Factor. Praise Jebus, the art doesn't make my eyes hurt anymore. Peter David's writing is spot-on with these characters but Stroman's art was killing my soul. This new artist, whoever he is, saved this book for me.

Amazing Spider-Man was almost my pick of the week. Not because of the great art or the big reveal at the end, but because we get the triumphant return of the Shocker, the best quilted bad guy ever! I've missed him.

Speaking of fun, Deadpool was my POW because it was just so much fun to read. Like a lot of people, I didn't have a lot of faith in the creative team, but they've proved themselves in my eyes. This book is why I love comics.
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X-Factor: Great issue. (Although I loved Stroman, *sniff*. It was a completely nostalgic love that ignored the reality of the lumpy-folk art, but it was love nevertheless.)

ASM: Marcos Martin WAS born to draw Spider-Man!

Deadpool: I can see where this book would be an acquired taste for some. Taste acquired! This was a fun book.

It's pretty interesting to see that just five years ago there were at least 10 books selling over a 100,000 copies a month and now just 5 years later there's barely 4 hitting the mark.

London comic Shop GOSH! interviewed Kev O'Neill on a number of subjects recently. They are available online (see links below), but I convert this sort of stuff to watch on my i-pod on my commute, thought I might as well share :-

1. Re LoXG

*link*

*link*


2. Re Nemesis

*link*

*link*


3. Re Marshall Law

*link*

*link*

Thanks have to listen to this at work on Thurs.